By NUR HAZIQAH A MALEK

MRT Corp Sdn Bhd yesterday announced the completion of the Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) Line’s first viaduct span.

Describing the completion as a major milestone, MRT Corp stated that the span for the mass rapid transit’s (MRT) SSP Line was constructed at the Kepong Baru station. The station is one of the 24 elevated stations of the SSP Line.

The span is located within the V202 Work Package where the contractor is Ahmad Zaki Sdn Bhd.

“Over the next two years, you will be seeing a continuous series of piers being built along major roads and highways which will be followed by the launching of segmental box girders (SBGs) to construct the viaduct,” MRT Corp project director for SSP Line Datuk Amiruddin Ma’aris said.

He added that with the successful launch of the SBGs and completion of the first viaduct span, the MRT project entered its next stage, track laying works on these viaducts.

“As of August, construction progress for the SSP Line is moving according to schedule. We are confident that the SSP Line is on track to launch its Phase One by July 2021, while the entire line to be fully operational by July 2022,” he added.

He added that as of July 31, 2017, the SSP Line was 12.05% complete.

The elevated section of the SSP Line will span for 38.7km, while 13.5km will be underground, summing up to a total length of 52.2km.

Meanwhile, SSP Line project delivery partner (PDP), MMC Gamuda KVMRT Sdn Bhd project director Param Sivalingam said as PDP, MMC Gamuda’s priority was to minimise public inconvenience and to ensure safety during construction.

“The advantages of using these methods are that it enables the viaduct spans to be erected rapidly on site
with minimal inconvenience to traffic below and disturbing public movement,” he said.

He added that the SBGs were cast by the work package contractor at the Sungai Gadut casting yard and checked by PDP’s supervising consultant to ensure SBGs were constructed in accordance to specifications.

The first SBG launching process was inspected by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health to ensure safety requirements are followed. Subsequent launches will be inspected by the PDP and SC.

He added that the SBGs cast by the work package contractor at the Sungai Gadut casting yard were also checked by PDP’s supervising consultant to ensure that the SBGs were constructed with MRT Corp’s
specifications.